Environmental sustainability in US dairy farms: Policies, practices, and outcomes

Abstract

Improving sustainability on US dairy farms has become a critical focus across the industry. As dairy farms continue to consolidate, there is a growing need to identify scalable, implementable soil health management practices that enhance environmental sustainability in the fields managed by the dairy. This paper examines the constraints on dairy forage operations, summarizes key findings from research station experiments comparing soil health management practices in these systems, and synthesizes findings from on-farm research projects that track environmental outcomes after practice adoption. We discuss the knowledge gaps related to soil health management practices and forage production, highlighting the need for long-term, actionable research that is applicable to the diversity of dairy operations across the United States. To drive meaningful improvements in environmental sustainability, it is crucial to integrate region-specific soil health practices, supported by technical and financial support. We conclude that the current body of literature is not adequate to support the widespread adoption of locally appropriate practices, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive research and support systems to ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of the US dairy industry. Finally, we propose future research directions to address the knowledge gaps and region-specific challenges through an integrated systems approach, focusing on the farm-scale impacts of soil health practices across diverse climates and production systems.